A day at the grocery store can be filled with endless choices. How can product developers stand out? Walnuts! This amazing, whole-food ingredient can integrate perfectly into almost every eating occasion, from breakfast to dinner and even all the snacking in between meals. We recently took a field trip to local supermarkets for inspiration. How can walnuts be used throughout the day? The product variety spoke for itself. You really can do more with walnuts.
The Traditionalist: Three Meals a Day
Three square meals a day doesn’t have to be boring. In fact, consumers have plenty of options to satisfy their cravings for breakfast, lunch and dinner, especially when it comes to plant-based products like walnuts.
Breakfast
A meal made with walnuts is a great way to start the day. One ounce of walnuts offers 4 grams of protein, 2 grams of fiber, and 18 grams of total fat including 13 grams of “good fats”: polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs). The 13 grams of PUFAs in walnuts includes 2.5 grams of plant-based omega-3 alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), making walnuts an excellent source for this important nutrient!
Real Medleys Apple Walnut, Quaker
Start the morning off with a wholesome oatmeal that can be eaten at home with the family or on the go. Chopped walnuts are mixed with sweet diced apples and tart cranberries in this multigrain oatmeal that perfectly satisfies consumers who want nutritious starts to their days.
Lunch and Dinner
Data from the Plant Based Foods Association (PBFA) and The Good Food Institute (GFI) found U.S. retail sales of plant-based foods on the rise, especially the value of plant-based meat. It’s the second-largest plant-based category, growing twice as fast as conventional meat. Further, 18% of U.S. households now purchase plant-based meat, thanks in part to these filling, delicious meat replacement products made with walnuts
Organic California Veggie Burger, Amy’s
Grab a wholesome, filling lunch that lasts through the afternoon with this dairy-free, vegan and soy-free burger made from walnuts, vegetables, mushrooms and grains. These burgers are pre-baked and microwaveable for those with tight lunch schedules.
Meaty Walnut Ravioli, Eat Nice
Eat Nice said that this dinner option started as a pesto, but then walnuts met organic sun-dried tomatoes! With that, a unique dinner offering was born, proving that walnuts are so versatile that they can be substituted for meat in a variety of products.
The All-Day Snacker
Mondelēz International released its third annual State of Snacking report, and for the third consecutive year, snacking is preferred over traditional mealtimes, with 64% opting for the snacking lifestyle. For the report, more than 3,000 consumers were polled across 12 global markets in October 2021. Mindfulness and well-being are playing an increasingly important role — even in snacking — with an astounding 85% of those surveyed eating at least one snack daily for sustenance and one snack for indulgence.
Walnuts are the perfect nut for an all-day snacking experience that can be both sustaining and indulgent. If you’re looking to formulate a product for snackers, get inspired by these made-with-walnut offerings.
Walnut Chocolate Chip Cookies, Tate’s Bake Shop
Prominently displayed in the cookie aisle, Tate’s cookies are a fan favorite. Combine walnuts and chocolate chips and you have a crunchy, indulgent cookie that melts in your mouth. Dunk in morning milk, satisfy that afternoon craving or eat as a midnight snack.
Grain-Free Original Granola, Simple Truth
There’s nothing more satisfying as a snack than granola you can crunch on throughout the entire day. This product’s mix is made with a combination of walnuts, maple syrup, raisins, dried coconut and flaxseed. It’s paleo-friendly, vegan and non-GMO.
Maple Cinnamon Nutnola Butter, Square Root
Need an indulgent walnut spread to get you through the day? This “nutnola” butter is naturally sweetened with maple syrup and includes a hint of cinnamon. It’s best enjoyed on fruit, toast, yogurt, ice cream or in smoothies — all great all-day snacking options.
